How a stand-up comedy class improved my job performance

I do not like public speaking. Which is ironic, since my job function is essentially: “communicator.” And of course speaking to groups, whether in meetings or conferences, is an essential communication skill in the work world. In a workplace that values meetings and presentations as a way to cross-learn, I was operating at a deficit.

I’ve always been comfortable with written communication. Even at age 14, I identified my career aspirations as “a writer.” Congratulations to my awkward adolescent self, you spend your days writing! My real-life paying job is to tell stories about how the use of energy impacts people. Telling these stories is a rewarding professional and personal experience for me. We (humans) can save the planet by reducing the energy we use and making sure the energy we do use is used strategically (drive electric Y'all!). And I get to show how that works, how cool is that?

Many years ago I discovered social media and I was hooked on the platforms and their potential. I threw myself into learning the ins and outs of the ever-changing landscape of social media marketing. In the process, I discovered a voice as a writer and gained valuable skills as a content strategist. What I wasn’t able to do, for a fair amount of time, was stand up and speak about that passion.

As any digital marketer knows, an immense volume of data and insights are always right at your fingertips. For a long time, I convinced myself that the best way to communicate information was to run the numbers, send an email, DONE (brushes hands with satisfaction). I was (am) terrified to speak in front of groups. But, what if the best way to communicate to your team is not your forte? I knew I needed to improve my public speaking habits. 

Boring professional seminar or stand-up comedy class? 

Friends and peers suggested I take a public speaking seminar. It made sense and seemed like a professional path to choose. A boring corporate learning seminar also sounded like my own personal hell. Instead, I proposed taking a stand-up comedy class for professional development. Most of the feedback I had been given about the presentations I couldn’t avoid was that no one ever suspected I was uncomfortable. I always had positive feedback on the content. I was quite adept at hiding the anxiety and stress. I determined that it was not the content of my presentations or how I was presenting. It was all about overcoming the fear so that I could present more often. I needed to flex and meet my organizations need to learn through this type of communication.

Stand-up comedy would be the ultimate way to rip off the Band-Aid, so to speak.

I took a six-week class at a local performing arts center with a fantastic and experienced standup comedian and about six other students. It was terrifying each and every week. Each week we wrote five minutes of material and performed it in front of the class. When we finished our five minutes the instructor would give you instant and often brutal feedback. But, I had a blast because I was laughing as I learned. Writing my own comedy material each week was even strengthening my writing. 

3 rules of stand-up to use at work

1. Prepare, prepare, prepare. It doesn’t make sense to get up on a stand-up stage and ad-lib. You’re not going to get the laughs you want. The same can be said for public speaking. You need to have what you are going to say buttoned up. Now when I present, I have a script. I often write down what I am going to say, word for word.
2. Practice. And then practice it again. And again. Each week of class I would show up with my material and while I was still scared to stand up and speak, I knew the material, and I felt comfortable with the words. They sounded human and familiar and it showed.
3. Stop and wait for the laughs. Okay, most of my social media report outs don’t have my co-workers in stitches. I translate this by pausing often and checking in with body language or questions. Something I never did before because I wanted to rush through and get it all over with. 

The final class was a comedy performance, each student had to get up and tell the jokes we had been honing over the previous weeks. I invited my marketing team members to the performance. Because is it really a flaming failure if all your colleagues don’t witness it first-hand?

Thankfully, I did not flop. I got up on stage and I even got a few laughs. I also brought back the skills I learned to the office! I can confidently say that I am funnier (and now with more modesty!) and I have the confidence to present at work and beyond. While I don’t think I will ever find public speaking easy, I do find it rewarding to prepare, practice, and deliver a good piece of communication.